Below are the agenda and minutes of the meeting held on April 27th. If you have any questions, please contact me at the district office (509) 369-4145.
1. Welcome – Dr. Dillon welcomed guests ( 2 community members, 1 parent, 2 staff, 2 board members)
2. Review of the Q&A Document- Dr. Dillon reviewed the Q&A document with guests
3. Areas of Concern – Dr. Dillon revisited the most questioned areas on concern.
a. More time with students not less time (No Wednesday half days)
b. More full day instructional days
c. Friday Activities/Enrichment/Intervention
d. Friday Meals Provided
4. Timeline – Dr. Dillon reviewed the timeline process with the guests
a. Resolution for the application – Board to review the application/resolution at the next board meeting.
b. OSPI reviews the application – Must be submitted by April 30th
c. Expecting a response from OSPI in June 2026
d. Board will collect the data from the surveys – Survey will be sent out in May.
e. Board will receive information gathered throughout the process – Dr. Dillon shared the following information that will be used by the board for a final decision.
i. Formal – meetings and data gathering/surveys
ii. Informal – Conversations that the administration and board are hearing in one-on-one meetings/conversations.
iii. Research – The research regarding student subgroups is being collected by a small committee and reported to the board.
iv. Student Learning Needs – Dr. Dillon shared that the school district has been identified as a district in need of a School Improvement Plan because of low test scores.
v. Strategic Plan Alignment – Is the plan aligned with the “why” of the 4-day school week rational?
f. Office is open for those who would like to share with me their thoughts but do not want to speak up in the meeting tonight. – Dr. Dillon shared that his door is open for individuals who might want to talk one-on-one, who do not feel comfortable share their thoughts about the proposed 4-day schedule in a group setting.
g. Open for comment – The following questions were brought up during the open comment time.
i. How are you gathering information/research on a 4-day schedule?
1. See details above.
ii. What kind of information/research are you gathering?
iii. What is the information/research saying?
iv. Who is gathering the information? (Board, Administration, Committees)
v. What has been the feedback thus far?
1. Families – Majority in favor of looking into the 4-day option and flexibility
2. Staff – Majority in favor of looking into the 4-day option and desire more details.
3. Parents and community desire choice options that fit family needs, student readiness, and flexibility.
vi. How do you see this supporting all students’ success?
1. The current schedule does not support all students’ success. With the flexibility of the Friday support system, we will be able to provide more support hours than our current schedule.
vii. Why do we need to improve staff recruitment and retention?
1. Historically when staff opening has been offered, there are very limited number of applicants applying, and of those staff members we have heard from, having one less day to drive into work would be financially helpful.
viii. How are the 4-day CTE enrichment opportunities different that a 5 day week schedule?
1. Fridays are available for students to take courses at the CGCC on Fridays and students can take on an internship or apprenticeship on Fridays and not have to miss any core content classes.
ix. How can fewer days strengthen teacher collaboration and planning?
1. Fewer days does not mean less contact time. In the course of the school year between the two schedules, the 4-day schedule is only 4 days less. But with Friday’s learning opportunities it will increase contact time with the neediest/at-risk students.
2. Teachers will have full days to collaborate and plan vs. weekly short 90-minute opportunities.
x. How will operational efficiency be increased?
1. Increasing enrollment with “choice transfer” students
xi. What is the research about attracting families with a 4-day schedule?
1. There is not current academic research specific to this question, but the district administration has had conversations with several local districts that have share that their enrollments have gone up with “choice transfer” students.
xii. Are there any families interested in transferring if we approve a 4-day schedule?
1. We have a couple families who have share interest in making the change if we go to the 4-day schedule, but no firm commitments yet, because the decision has not been made yet.
xiii. What community partners & local organizations are we working with to address childcare and enrichment opportunities?
1. Klickitat County Childcare Committee
2. Washington Department of Commerce
3. For enrichment opportunities, they will be managed by district staff.
xiv. If schools in our league aren’t 4-days how can athletics be managed.
1. Athletes still participate in the extra-curricular activity, like they would if a game or practice is on Saturday.
2. In addition, by moving to a 4-day schedule, athletes will not miss 7.4 days of instructional time missing class to travel on Fridays to games.
xv. Increase student engagement when same # of minutes are not changed?
1. The number of minutes will change.
xvi. Concerned that the state wants to consolidate small school districts and does going to a 4-day schedule increase the legislator’s efforts to consolidate?
1. Our Rural School lobbyist have shared that consolidation is a conversation every legislative session. It doesn’t matter if we are 4 or 5 days.
xvii. How are we sending our surveys?
1. Website, Facebook, and hardcopies available in the office. There was a recommendation to provide information in the next school community newsletter.